Distribution of wireless telephony and data signals in a substantially closed environment

Abstract

A communication system is provided. The communication system includes a host unit that is adapted to communicate wireless telephony signals with a telephony network and adapted to communicate wireless data with at least one data network. A communication link carries both the wireless telephony signals and the wireless data. At least one remote antenna unit is communicatively coupled to the host unit over the communication link. The remote antenna unit communicates the wireless telephony signals and the wireless data with wireless terminals. The at least one remote unit further communicates digitized telephony signals and wireless data signals with the host unit over the communication link.

1. A communication system, comprising:
 a host unit that is adapted to communicate wireless telephony signals with a telephony network and adapted to communicate wireless data with at least one data network; 
 a communication link that carries both the wireless telephony signals and the wireless data; and 
 at least one remote antenna unit, communicatively coupled to the host unit over the communication link, wherein the remote antenna unit includes:
 a broadband digitization circuit, that is adapted to communicate wireless telephony signals with wireless terminals, 
 
 a wireless data transceiver that is adapted to communicate wireless data with wireless terminals, and 
 a data formatting circuit coupled between the wireless data transceiver and the broadband digitization circuit that formats the wireless data for transmission to the host unit and to the wireless terminals. 
 
   
   
     2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the broadband digitization circuit supports wireless telephony communication according to at least one of Analog Mobile Phone System (AMPS), Total Access Communication System (TACS), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), IS-54, IS-95, IS-136 and Personal Communication Service (PCS) standards and services. 
   
   
     3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless data transceiver supports at least one of the HIPERLAN standard, one of the 802.11 family of wireless local area network standards promulgated by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and wireless personal area network (PAN) technology from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group and the HomeRF working group. 
   
   
     4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the broadband digitization circuit includes an RF to digital converter that digitizes the RF spectrum used for the wireless telephony signals. 
   
   
     5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the broadband digitization circuit includes a multiplexer that inserts wireless data into data words with the digitized RF spectrum. 
   
   
     6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the data words include 14 bit locations for the wireless telephony signals and 4 bit locations for the wireless data. 
   
   
     7. A remote antenna unit for communicating with wireless data terminals and wireless telephones, the unit comprising:
 a broadband digitization circuit, that is adapted to communicate with the wireless telephones; 
 wherein the broadband digitization circuit includes a port that is configured to communicate with a host unit over a communication link used for both wireless data and wireless telephony signals; 
 a wireless data transceiver that is adapted to communicate with the wireless data terminals; and 
 a data formatting circuit coupled between the wireless data transceiver and the broadband digitization circuit that formats the wireless data for transmission to the wireless data terminals and for transmission to a host unit over the communication link with the wireless telephony signals. 
 
   
   
     8. The remote antenna unit of  claim 7 , wherein the broadband digitization circuit supports wireless telephony communication according to at least one of Analog Mobile Phone System (AMPS), Total Access Communication System (TACS), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), IS-54, IS-95, IS-136 and Personal Communication Service (PCS) standards and services. 
   
   
     9. The remote antenna unit of  claim 7 , wherein the wireless data transceiver supports at least one of the HIPERLAN standard, one of the 802.11 family of wireless local area network standards promulgated by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and wireless personal area network (PAN) technology from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group and the HomeRF working group. 
   
   
     10. The remote antenna unit of  claim 7 , wherein the broadband digitization circuit includes an RF to digital converter that digitizes the RF spectrum used for the wireless telephony signals. 
   
   
     11. The remote antenna unit of  claim 10 , wherein the broadband digitization circuit includes a multiplexer that inserts wireless data into data words with the digitized RF spectrum. 
   
   
     12. The remote antenna unit of  claim 11 , wherein the data words include 14 bit locations for the digitized wireless telephony signals and 4 bit locations for the wireless data. 
   
   
     13. A method for transporting wireless telephony signals and wireless data in a substantially closed environment, the method comprising:
 receiving wireless telephony signals and wireless data at a common location; 
 formatting the wireless data for transmission; 
 inserting the formatted wireless data into the wireless telephony signals; 
 transmitting the wireless data and the wireless telephony signals over a common communication link to a host unit; 
 providing the wireless telephony signals to a telephony network; and 
 providing the wireless data to a data network. 
 
   
   
     14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein receiving wireless telephony signals and wireless data comprises receiving wireless telephony signals and wireless data at a common antenna. 
   
   
     15. The method of  claim 13 , and further including digitizing the RF spectrum carrying the wireless telephony signals prior to inserting the formatted wireless data. 
   
   
     16. The method of  claim 13 , wherein inserting the wireless data into the wireless telephony signals comprises forming N-bit words with X bits for the wireless telephony signals and up to N–X bits for the wireless data. 
   
   
     17. The method of  claim 13 , wherein transmitting comprises transmitting over a fiber optic communication medium. 
   
   
     18. The method of  claim 13 , wherein transmitting comprises transmitting over a copper-based communication medium. 
   
   
     19. A communication system, comprising:
 a host unit that is adapted to communicate wireless telephony signals with a telephony network and adapted to communicate wireless data with at least one data network;
 a communication link that carries both the wireless telephony signals and the wireless data; 
 at least one remote antenna unit, communicatively coupled to the host unit over the communication link, wherein the remote antenna unit communicates the wireless telephony signals and the wireless data with wireless terminals; 
 wherein the at least one remote antenna unit includes an RF to digital converter that digitizes the RF spectrum used for the wireless telephony signals; 
 wherein the at least one remote antenna unit further communicates the digitized RF spectrum used for the wireless telephony signals and wireless data signals with the host unit over the communication link, and 
 wherein the at least one remote antenna unit includes a multiplexer that inserts wireless data into data words with the digitized RF spectrum. 
 
 
   
   
     20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one remote antenna unit supports wireless telephony communication according to at least one of Analog Mobile Phone System (AMPS), Total Access Communication System (TACS), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), IS-54, IS-95, IS-136 and Personal Communication Service (PCS) standards and services. 
   
   
     21. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one remote antenna unit supports at least one of the HIPERLAN standard, one of the 802.11 family of wireless local area network standards promulgated by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and wireless personal area network (PAN) technology from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group and the HomeRF working group. 
   
   
     22. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the data words include 14 bit locations for the wireless telephony signals and 4 bit locations for the wireless data. 
   
   
     23. A transport system for transporting signals for first and second wireless networks, the transport system comprising:
 a first interface that is adapted to communicate signals with wireless terminals from the first and second wireless networks, wherein the first interface further combines signals from the first and second wireless networks into selected bit locations of shared data words; 
 a second interface that is adapted to communicate signals with the first and second wireless networks; and 
 a communication medium, coupled between the first and second interfaces, the communication medium adapted to transport the data words for the first and second wireless networks between the first and second interfaces. 
 
   
   
     24. The transport system of  claim 23 , wherein the first interface includes a broadband digitization circuit that digitizes a frequency spectrum for transmission over the communication medium. 
   
   
     25. The transport system of  claim 23 , wherein the first interface is adapted to communicate signals with a wireless data network and a wireless telephony network. 
   
   
     26. The transport system of  claim 23 , wherein the communication medium comprises at least one of fiber optic cable, coaxial cable, twisted pair, infrared, microwave, wireless, and copper-based communication medium. 
   
   
     27. The transport system of  claim 23 , wherein the first interface comprises:
 circuitry that supports wireless telephony communication according to at least one of Analog Mobile Phone System (AMPS), Total Access Communication System (TACS), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), IS-54, IS-95, IS-136 and Personal Communication Service (PCS) standards and services; and 
 circuitry that supports at least one of the HIPERLAN standard, one of the 802.11 family of wireless local area network standards promulgated by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and wireless personal area network (PAN) technology from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group and the HomeRF working group. 
 
   
   
     28. A system for transporting wireless telephony signals for a first wireless network and wireless data for a second wireless network, the system comprising:
 a host unit that is adapted to communicate wireless telephony signals with a telephony network and adapted to communicate wireless data with at least one data network; 
 a communication link that transports both the wireless telephony signals and the wireless data in common N-bit words with X bits for wireless telephony signals and up to N–X bits for wireless data; and 
 at least one remote antenna unit, communicatively coupled to the host unit over the communication link, wherein the remote antenna unit includes: 
 a broadband digitization circuit, that is adapted to communicate wireless telephony signals with wireless terminals using a first wireless air interface, 
 a wireless data transceiver that is adapted to communicate wireless data with other wireless terminals using a second wireless air interface, a data formatting circuit coupled to the wireless data transceiver that formats the wireless data for transmission onto the host unit and to the wireless terminals; 
 
     a multiplexer, coupled between the data formatting circuit and the broadband digitization circuit, that inserts the formatted wireless data into the common N-bit words for transport to the host unit; and
 a demultiplexer, coupled between the data formatting circuit and the broadband digitization circuit, that removes the wireless data from common N-bit words for transmission by the wireless data transceiver. 
 
   
   
     29. A remote antenna unit for a system for transporting wireless telephony signals from a first wireless network and wireless data for a second wireless network, the remote antenna unit comprising:
 a broadband digitization circuit, that is adapted to communicate wireless telephony signals with wireless terminals using a first wireless air interface, 
 a wireless data transceiver that is adapted to communicate wireless data with other wireless terminals using a second wireless air interface, a data formatting circuit coupled to the wireless data transceiver that formats the wireless data for transmission to a host unit and to the wireless terminals; 
 
     a multiplexer, coupled between the data formatting circuit and the broadband digitization circuit, that inserts the formatted wireless data into the common N-bit words for transport to the host unit; and
 a demultiplexer, coupled between the data formatting circuit and the broadband digitization circuit, that removes the wireless data from common N-bit words for transmission by the wireless data transceiver. 
 
   
   
     30. A system for transporting wireless telephony signals and wireless data in a substantially closed environment, the system comprising:
 means for receiving wireless telephony signals over a first wireless air interface; 
 means for receiving wireless data over a second wireless air interface at a common location with the means for receiving the wireless telephony signals; 
 means, coupled to the means for receiving wireless data, for formatting the wireless data for transport; 
 means, coupled to the means for formatting, for inserting the formatted wireless data into the wireless telephony signals; 
 means, coupled to the means for inserting, for transporting the wireless data and the wireless telephony signals over a common communication link to a host unit; 
 means, coupled to the means for transporting, for providing the wireless telephony signals to a telephony network; and 
 means, coupled to the means for transporting, for providing the wireless data to a data network. 
 
   
   
     31. A method for transporting wireless telephony signals and wireless data in a substantially closed environment, the method comprising:
 receiving wireless telephony signals over a first air interface; 
 receiving wireless data over a second, different air interface at a common location; 
 formatting the wireless data for transport; 
 inserting the formatted wireless data into N-bit words used for transporting the wireless telephony signals; 
 transporting the N-bit words over a communication link to a host unit; 
 providing the wireless telephony signals to a telephony network; and 
 providing the wireless data to a data network. 
 
   
   
     32. A system for transporting wireless signals for a first wireless network and wireless signals for a second wireless network, the system comprising:
 a host unit that is adapted to communicate wireless signals with a first network and adapted to communicate wireless signals with a second network; 
 a communication link that transports both the wireless signals for the first wireless network and the wireless signals for the second wireless network in common N-bit words with X bits for the wireless signals for the first wireless network and up to N–X bits for wireless signals for the second wireless network; and 
 at least one remote antenna unit, communicatively coupled to the host unit over the communication link, wherein the remote antenna unit includes: 
 a broadband digitization circuit, that is adapted to communicate wireless signals with wireless terminals using a first wireless air interface, 
 a wireless transceiver that is adapted to communicate wireless signals with other wireless terminals using a second wireless air interface, a data formatting circuit coupled to the wireless transceiver that formats the wireless signals for transmission to the host unit and to the other wireless terminals; 
 
     a multiplexer, coupled between the data formatting circuit and the broadband digitization circuit that inserts the formatted wireless signals into the common N-bit words for transport to the host unit; and
 a demultiplexer, coupled between the data formatting circuit and the broadband digitization circuit, that removes the wireless signals from common N-bit words for transmission by the wireless transceiver.